Tight security in place for Durga Puja: DMP chief

Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Habibur Rahman has said that security has been beefed up in all areas concerned over the upcoming Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community.

"All security measures have been taken centring the Durga Puja considering all kinds of threats," he told reporters after inspecting the security arrangement of Dhakeshwari National Temple in old Dhaka on Thursday.

About ensuring a safe and peaceful environment for the Durga Puja celebration ahead of the upcoming general elections, he said that there are 248 puja mandaps in the Dhaka metropolitan area and adequate security measures have been taken for these mandapas.

Noting that security has been tightened from the beginning of Mahalaya, which was observed six days before Durga Puja, till Thursday, he said security will be ensured with the help of police-Ansar along with the volunteer team from Maha Shasthi to Bisarjan (immersion).

He hoped that all would celebrate the annual five-day Sharadiyo Durgotsab which will commence with Kalparambho on Friday morning.

The DMP commissioner said police personnel both in plainclothes and in uniforms will work for the smooth celebration of the Durga Puja.

In response to another query from journalists about whether there is any kind of apprehension in celebrating the Puja ahead of the upcoming elections, he said that there is no specific apprehension in the Dhaka metropolitan area on the occasion of the Puja.

"We are prepared to face all kinds of untoward situations," he added.

Regarding the overall security of the puja mandaps, he said there will be archways and special teams at every place and Close Circuit Cameras (CCTVs) have been installed in every puja mandap.

Mentioning that round-the-clock cyber monitoring will be available to deal with any kind of rumors or provocations on social media, the DMP chief said law enforcers including River Police will remain vigilant at Bisarjan Ghat during the time of immersion of idols of goddess Durga.

Dhaka Mahanagar Puja Udjapan Parishad president Monindra Kumar Nath, DMP Additional Commissioner (Admin) AKM Hafiz Akhtar and chief of Detective Branch (DB) of DMP Harun Or Rashid were present, among others, on the occasion.

/KN/